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The striped bass fishing is excellent from Montauk Point to New York Bright and along the South Shore beaches. At Montauk Point, big stripers were caught at Hither Hills, at Ditch Plains, Jones Reef,
North Bar, Scott's Hole, the town beaches, the Glass House, under the Light, at Georgica Pond, and at Shagwon Point, reports Jack Yee and Paulie's Bait and Tackle. A few bluefish were taken at Turtle Cove.
Shagwon Point has been the hot area for bass action early and late in the day. The bass and blues have been moving around so it's best to fish several spots until you hook up.
The Montauk Lighthouse area has been a hot spot for the boats that are chasing birds, bait and fish about one-half mile out. When they move in the closer to shore the surfcasters get a shot at them. Boat anglers are catching bass and bluefish in the rips on live eels, on parachutes jigs, and tubes trolled in the rips.
The water temperature off Montauk Point was in the low 50s. The herring and gannets are beginning to show up with larger concentrations reported further to the north. As they move south there should be big bass behind them.
End Bait and Tackle reports that the stripers have moved onto the beaches east of Shinnecock Inlet, with more than a fair share of bluefish mixed in. The blues have been chasing the bunker up onto the
beaches. The Shinnecock Canal is holding some schoolie bass in by the locks and some sea bass up at the north jetty. Stripers by the Ponquogue Bridge are mostly taking clams, while eels seem to be the
best for the inlet.
Mike at Saltwaters Bait and Tackle reported that the action in the Robert Moses surf has been mostly schoolie stripers to 30 inches. Boats working diamond jigs in 50 to 60 feet of water south between the
Fire Island Lighthouse and Jones Inlet are finding all the schoolie bass and blues they want. On the West Bar of Fire Island Inlet, stripers are taking clams. In Fire Island Inlet, eels are catching stripers on the outgoing tide between the Lighthouse and the Coast Guard Station. Stripers are being caught at night in the State Boat Channel between the Lindenhurst Cut and the third Wantagh Bridge, and in the north side of the Great South Bay around Amityville. On the North Shore, stripers are being caught at Shoreham on bunker chunks and on teasers fished in front of a plug.
Justin at Parkwood Outfitters reported that flyrodders are scoring on baby bunker imitations along the South Shore beaches. He also mentioned that when the herring arrive at Montauk Point, it's the
perfect time for flyrodders to score with some big stripers.
On the North Shore, the best fishing has been the fantastic blackfishing. The Celtic Quest out of Port Jefferson and the Island Current out of City Island reported that fares are limiting out on 'tog to 9 pounds. Both green and Asian crabs are working well, with the Asians having an extra edge. The blackfishing is outstanding and are on any piece of structure from Cranes Neck to Orient Point, reported the Rocky Point Fishing Stop.
Blackfish and sea bass fishing off Montauk Point has been excellent, with most anglers limiting out in a few hours. Many boats are running over to Block Island or fishing local wrecks. The blackfishing off the South Shore is spotty, with many pieces fished hard by the party boats. The key to a successful day is to find pieces of structure that have been passed over by the party boat fleet.
The Viking Fleet is permitted to porgy fish until December and has been running over to Block Island for sea bass to 5.5 pounds and porgies to 3.9 pounds. They reported that the Block Island
blackfishing is also hot, with pool fish to 13 pounds, and that most anglers limiting out in a few hours. They have also been fishing Coxes Ledge for codfish to 20 pounds. Large sea bass are mixed in with the
cod.
The freshwater scene is relatively quiet.
Pheasants are being taken by hunters at the Rocky Point Preserve and at the Navy Co-Op.
Guy Zummo flyfishguy@optonline.net
